People often ask if I have a favorite title and I answer with “the one I’m working on now” which is true. But The Healing of Natalie Curtis, out September 7, is a close second. It’s a story of the power of music and intention in a healing journey.

I had my first in-person presentation last month at the Women of Worth event sponsored by the Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, Oregon. The group celebrates women over fifty. You can watch the video here. I spoke on “Hope is an Orientation of the Spirit.” Music and inspirational words precede my part. I’m at the 39 minute level if you’re time constrained. Enjoy.

Writer Brian Doyle in One Long River of Song wrote that Europeans who first saw them called them “flying jewels.”  They had never seen them before and lo, hummingbirds are only known in the Americas.

With hope, a little anxiety and love in my heart, I boarded a plane for the first time in two years to officiate at my nephews wedding in Minnesota. After failing to get Uber to note our address in Southern California as anything other than “Bing Crosby at Greer Garson” (a road sign that is two homes away from our home), I decided to drive the 8 miles at 4:00 am and leave the car at the Palm Springs airport.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the Oregon Trail.  Driving it. Walking it. Reading diaries from it and putting characters on it. In 1852, the first year that the most families came across, there were all kinds of fascinating things that happened.

To begin in beauty once again, I present the cover of my September release, The Healing of Natalie Curtis. I love it! The story of Natalie Curtis is set mostly in the Southwest and this cover says that to me.